Where solar panels should go

Re “Solar highways and parking lots,” editorial, May16

You correctly identify unused or underused public and private lands as good sites for solar arrays. However, the state highway rights of way are mostly some distance from urban residents.

The better solution is to put solar on urban commercial property sights, where power generation would be closest to users.

The legislative proposal by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) does provide some helpful financial incentives for property owners. But the biggest obstacle is not the reluctance of property owners. It is the resistance of the utilities.

Utilities are monopolies that seek to make money for their owners. Thus, it makes sense for them to invest in a distant desert solar power plant with long transmission lines, and earn a guaranteed return on all that invested capital. They prefer that over buying local power, even though ratepayers would opt for the cheaper local solution.

Who thinks the utility lobby will be excited about Becker’s bill?

Eric Winter Manhattan Beach

As a scientist who recently published a study about the ecosystem implications of putting solar canopies in urban parking lots in California, I was glad to see The Times’ editorial board support legislation that would encourage doing just that.

Not only do solar canopies in parking lots make good use of space for renewable energy and create shade that keeps cars cooler, they can also be good for urban ecosystems.

My co-authors and I found that integrating small vegetation areas like flowers and bushes under the solar canopies yields significant benefits for local environments and biodiversity. Building in such green spaces is relatively common, easy and aesthetically pleasing, and it supports ecosystem services like air purification.

As the more renewable energy is deployed in cities and along highways, it’s worth also planning for biodiversity and integrating vegetation to support urban ecosystems.

John Armstrong

Seattle The writer is an assistant professor of environmental studies at Seattle University.